RPG.avioc.org

Time passed along the Fenbridge. The song of the elf helped push back the dark thoughts and despair that was worming its way into the the hearts of the companions. None seemed to sleep deeply, and the mumbled words of Radagast seemed to be heard all night when any member of the party came to awareness to roll over or shift in their sleep. It was the elf and the brown wizard that shook the companions awake. None would have thought they had slept if not for the waking. To the companions the color of the sky and their ability to see seemed no greater or any different from when they had gone to bed.

They assembled quickly, rolling up their blankets and other gear. The fire had guttered out long ago, there was no warmth in it anyway and served only to heat their food from before they slept. One was hesitant to be so firm of conviction to call it yesterday.

The companions journeyed on and the time passed much as it had the day before. After a time the companions knew they were drawing closer to their objective. They felt it before they ever saw it. A dark presence that weighed them down, an almost physical barrier that retarded their progress and made it a supreme effort of will to continue on.

A dark shadow began to fill the path before them. A smudge of blackness started low and spanned their small visible horizon, and then a hulking squarish pronounced lump. In a few moments the mists swirled aside and the moat house was before them.

"This is the outer wall, and our destination lies within," said Radagast.

"The wall surrounds the hill and this is the first gate we are coming too. Speak softly and do not leave the path. DO NOT LEAVE THE PATH." The brown wizard emphasized the last comment.

"When we pass through the gate the marsh will look similar to the one we just traversed, this is a deception. The waters beyond are haunted by the dead who hunger for the heat and blood of the living. They may appear fair as well as foul, they may call for help,or lure you with lights. Do not go in the water for any reason and stay close to me."

The Brown Wizard took them all forward and the smudge and shape before them took the shape of a rising wall and gate house. The battlements were vacant and the party saw no lights or fires anywhere. The gates were cast open. Great wooden doors banded with iron and engraved with strange sigils and runes jagged broken teeth in a gaping maw. The brown wizard disappeared into the darkness of the moat house, and as the companions followed they saw that it resembled the one at Fenbridge Castle. However, this one seemed more ominous and oppressive than the last one.

As they passed through they first beheld the moat of Dol Guldur. While the marsh had stunted trees and mire the moat resembled more a bog, crossed with a causway from the open gate. The eye was drawn naturally across the bog and then traced the contour of the Hall of the Necromancer. The ever present fog outside the gate was gone. The mist seemed to rise from the very towers of the hill and formed a dark cloud that hung over the citadel, plunged down at the walls, and creeped over the land.

Beyond the moat was another wall and the slope of the hill revealed a large open area, a place to muster the armies as they spilled from the unknown depths of the pits beneath the citadel. Within the area low haphazard structures could be seen, but no fires or signs of occupation.
 
From their position at the gate they could see how darkly appealing and beautiful the high keep looked. Flowing arches and open arcades were visible in the distance. The high keep invoked the thought of a majestic bubble rising through the water, rippling and rolling as it rose, while the person who released it into the water marveled at its beauty and then drowned.

The Brown Wizard hurried across the causeway and up to the inner wall. The gate here stood open as well. This gate was not simple iron and wood, instead it was made of a black stone substance covered in sigils. Neither elf, dwarf, or man knew where the substance was mined, wrought, or grown from. At this gate Radagast paused.

"This gate is not broken like the last, the magic in it eluded our ability to destroy it. Saruman, the head of my order, alone had the skill and power to open it only. It is a good sign that it remains open, for only the dark enemy or his servants could close it again. We are close to our goal friends, remain stout of heart."

As the companions passed this gate it was easy to pick out among the unknown runes those which were known to each of the peoples and cultures of the companions to be foul and dark curses. Save only the Hobbit, who understood its intent but found no curses of his own folk carved upon the door.

The companions wound their way around the hill ever rising and drawing closer to the High Keep. The silence of the place was almost unbearable and only Radagast seemed to be able to speak freely and when he pleased. So in silence the party passed into the inner courtyard.

Orophin knew what it was at once, and the recognition slowly dawned on the other companions as well from the song the elf had sung the night before. They now stood in what remained of the elf king of olds garden. The open space possessed galleries and shaped fountains that were silent. The pale marble of the stone seemed glow on its own, or shone like polished bone. Garden beds were fallow and seemed as though the dead dirt was swept and raked, where skulls and other bones seemed to decorate them in the absence of flowers and other naturally growing things.

All of this appeared in the periphery. The conscious mind was drawn first to the mallorn trees. Twelve of them stood in a circle, their leafless skeletal arms outstretched from the trunks as if the trees had died by torture and the lifeless trunks left like criminals in a gibbet for all to see their punishment. Arranged around the circle of the trees were six statues in pairs of two. The large figures were roughly man-shaped, but had the heads of giant vultures and eyes that seemed to glitter and shine with an unnatural awareness. Two stood at the entrance to the garden, two before a stair that rose up to the great hall of the citadel, and two more stood at the entrance to the high keep, the objective of the companions.

OOC: I need each of the companions to make two rolls. The first a Fear test TN 16 to be able to proceed any further into Dol Guldur. The PCs have 1 skill die for each point of valour and may roll the feat die as normal. Using the heart attribute by spending hope if required. Those who fail can not proceed.
 I then need a second Fear test at TN 16 in order to enter into the hall. Dice are determined the same as above. A failure on this second roll means the character may not spend any points of Hope while within the Keep. They may however spend Hope in an attempt to pass the test.

As the fellowship crosses the causeway, Arbogast keeps his axe hanging at his belt, leaving a hand free in case a friend needs to be pulled from the mire.  By the time they reach the black gate, however, he finds the axe in his hand despite having no memory of having drawn it.  His teeth are clenched so hard that his jaw aches. 

The statues in the barren garden are awful things, and Arbogast finds himself longing to lash out in atavistic hatred and fear.  But as awful as the silence is, the ringing of steel on stone would be worse.  Instead, he steps forward, trying to keep his breathing steady. 


:ooc: First Fear test:

He cannot do it.  For a long moment, he stands still, his eyes tightly shut and his heart pounding like a war-drum beat by a madman.  When he opens his eyes, he sees Bandobras, bow in hand, hairy feet moving silently as a cat across the flagstones.  Arbogast finds himself hoping, absurdly, that he will not soil himself.  He is, after all, a warrior of his people - one of the steel-eyed sons of Mirkwood!  What dread can ancient stones have for him?  Shall a Woodman be foiled while a Hobbit, of gentler lands, goes on?  NO! 

Sweating, nearly weeping with fear, Arbogast pushes on. 


:ooc:...by spending a point of Hope.  (:csu:)

Second Fear roll:

He finds himself surprised at the effect of this new-found resolution.  He is even able, briefly, to meet the baleful eyes of the second set of statues as he approaches the High Keep. 

Pausing just inside, he lets his heart slow and his breathing calm.  As his companions follow, he motions them to silence, for slight noises stir the air both inside the keep and out.  The minute sounds, the smells, the flicker of shadows at the corner of the eye, all may give valuable clues as to what awaits the fellowship. 


:ooc: I'm using my Natural Watchfulness ability to get some additional information about the surroundings. 
DC 14 Explore 3

Bandy, unable to look any longer at the wretched sight of the ruined trees, turned his eyes toward the hideous statues. Their almost sentient gaze held him transfixed.

:ooc: First Fear check




Second Fear check

As the vulture-headed being bends its will toward Bandy, dark thoughts fill his mind. At that moment, he is utterly alone and exposed. Exerting every effort not to flee, he wrestles with the creature for control of his emotions. His head throbs and muscles tense with the effort. As Arbogast's shadowy form passes between him and the malevolent gaze, Bandy wrests free and stumbles forward toward the keep and the second set of watchers. The struggle has left him drained and forlorn. 

 :ooc: No amount of Hope is going to salvage that second roll.

Arbogast, through a supreme effort of will was able to master his fear and enter the garden. In order to take his mind from the watchers he began to explore the area. While so far everything had appeared derelict and deserted through careful observation he noted that someone had come this way recently, possibly pursued or followed by orcs. Of their return however he could not decipher from the limited information he had at hand.

"Go quietly," he tells the others.  "Orcs pursued some quarry this way not long ago, and we are likely not alone."

 :ooc: Orophin's fear tests
TN 16 valour ♦♦


TN 16 valour ♦♦

 :ooc: doug, Orophin failed the Watchers Fear roll with the first roll and I am not sure spending Hope will get him to pass. Wecan either let the roll stand as it is, or let him use his Merry trait to pass the Fear test, but the sorrow of what he has seen will give him an automoatic Shadow Point to do so. Thoughts?

 :ooc: Rolls for Rorin, I'll post RP in a couple hours.

Fear 1 TN16



Fear 2 TN16

 :ooc: I'm not entirely clear on how Distinctive Features work, but Rorin is Bold [not easily daunted, willing to place yourself in danger - TOR p.97] and I imagine that should have some affect on his current predicament.

 :ooc: Fear Tests (TN=16)

First Test



Second Test

Quote from: Telcontar on Oct 08, 2015, 03:22 AM:ooc: doug, Orophin failed the Watchers Fear roll with the first roll and I am not sure spending Hope will get him to pass. Wecan either let the roll stand as it is, or let him use his Merry trait to pass the Fear test, but the sorrow of what he has seen will give him an automoatic Shadow Point to do so. Thoughts?

:ooc: Yea, Tom, I am good with that. Since Dol Guldur is formerly a Silvan Elf home, I could see him taking great sorrow from seeing what it is now compared to what it used to be in the songs and stories.

He also rolled an :~~: with his second Fear test - not sure if that falls under the sidebar for :~~: effects within Dol Guldur - so let me know how you want me to play that out.

Anyway, I marked off a point of Hope to make the first roll a 15. His Merry ability takes the test to TN 14 (my house ruling), so he passed and may enter the fortress. BUT, he gains the Shadow for your ruling above, and his failed second roll removes his ability to spend anymore Hope while in Dol Guldur.  :csu:

ALSO - the book sidebar allows us only a maximum of rolls of any type for each PC equal to their Valour score from this point forward. Any roll above the maximum count automatically causes a Shadow Point.

TO the players, what this means is there is a Dark Will within the fortress that is focusing on your party. The one that is most heroic and skillful will get more attention.  >:D

:ooc: Esgalwen seems to be made of some pretty stern stuff!  ;D

That's awesome!

Quote from: tomcat on Oct 08, 2015, 05:54 AM

Quote from: Telcontar on Oct 08, 2015, 03:22 AM:ooc: doug, Orophin failed the Watchers Fear roll with the first roll and I am not sure spending Hope will get him to pass. Wecan either let the roll stand as it is, or let him use his Merry trait to pass the Fear test, but the sorrow of what he has seen will give him an automoatic Shadow Point to do so. Thoughts?

:ooc: Yea, Tom, I am good with that. Since Dol Guldur is formerly a Silvan Elf home, I could see him taking great sorrow from seeing what it is now compared to what it used to be in the songs and stories.

He also rolled an :~~: with his second Fear test - not sure if that falls under the sidebar for :~~: effects within Dol Guldur - so let me know how you want me to play that out.

Anyway, I marked off a point of Hope to make the first roll a 15. His Merry ability takes the test to TN 14 (my house ruling), so he passed and may enter the fortress. BUT, he gains the Shadow for your ruling above, and his failed second roll removes his ability to spend anymore Hope while in Dol Guldur.  :csu:

ALSO - the book sidebar allows us only a maximum of rolls of any type for each PC equal to their Valour score from this point forward. Any roll above the maximum count automatically causes a Shadow Point.

TO the players, what this means is there is a Dark Will within the fortress that is focusing on your party. The one that is most heroic and skillful will get more attention.  >:D

Doug,
 i have a post that explains all that for the next section once I knew who can press on and what everyone's final shadow score is going to be before we actually enter the High Keep. I was getting the second roll out of the waynow so as to not break the narrative with another roll sosoon after the first.

Quote from: disench4nted on Oct 08, 2015, 04:22 AM:ooc: I'm not entirely clear on how Distinctive Features work, but Rorin is Bold [not easily daunted, willing to place yourself in danger - TOR p.97] and I imagine that should have some affect on his current predicament.

:ooc: I would have to say that this plays into the same realm as the Merry issue with Orophin. As Loremaster, I do not want to have PC's with traits that give them an auto-pass on things like Corruption and Fear. That said, I agree that the trait should have an impact - so we will apply the same rule as Merry that the Bold trait will effectively reduce the TN by one step. I will also go as far to say that the trait will grant an ordinary auto-success on any standard TN (14) or less.

So on a Fear test TN 14, Rorin could make use of the trait for an auto-success. If the Fear test was TN 18, he could still use it, but all it will do is step the TN down by one rank to TN 16. Make sense?

Quote from: Telcontar on Oct 08, 2015, 07:52 AMDoug,
i have a post that explains all that for the next section once I knew who can press on and what everyone's final shadow score is going to be before we actually enter the High Keep. I was getting the second roll out of the waynow so as to not break the narrative with another roll sosoon after the first.

:ooc: Cool...I just brought it up now, so the PC's know they will have dangerous limitations since they are within the environs of Dol Guldur. I didn't want them going off with a bunch of skill rolls and then fall victim to the evil will. I did not mean to overstep any boundaries.  ;)

 :ooc: Great, that makes sense. So that brings the TN for these tests down to 14 which he still failed miserably. If I can spend 2 hope to pass the first test I will, because I still fail with a 13 after one hope. I'm guessing you aren't allowed to use more than one hope on a single roll, but I don't remember for sure.

 :ooc: scratch my idea above about the Merry or Bold trait granting an auto-success to Corruption or Fear.

It clearly states in the book that traits affect skill rolls, and Fear and Corruption are not skill rolls. So, I will say we only apply the TN step down to these kind of rolls.

Cool profile pic!

 :ooc: sorry to disrupt the mood with all this mechanical stuff. Orophin will be able to pass the test using his Merry trait to reduce the difficulty by 2 points and thereby pass. Rorin will not pass the first test, Bold will lower the TN to 14 but even with spending a point of hope he will not be able to match the TN. My understanding is that only one point of Hope can be spent on a roll, but I'll confer with my co-LM. Doug?

 :ooc: I can't find anything that says either way, but it seems logical that since its based on attributes, we only have 1 life to offer, if you get my drift - 1 heart, 1 mind, 1 strength.

But, I will let you rule on it , Tom, either way works for me.

:ooc: The closest I can find is on page 25: "Players can choose to spend a point of Hope to tap a player-hero's energy reserves and possibly push him beyond his limits." 

There's no mention of 'one or more points' (sorry - I'm in full law-student mode at the moment). 

On the other hand, I doubt anyone will criticise a decision that allows disench4nted to keep participating in the story, rather than sit it out for however long we're in the High Keep.  I'd say otherwise in a face-to-face game, but the requirements of PbP are different, so I'd argue against locking a player out of the story based on any single roll.  Given that you've already gone that way, I'd say that the use of multiple points of Hope to keep him in play is fine.  It also brings his Hope score down to the point where being Miserable becomes a real possibility, which is fun.  For a given definition of 'fun'. 

I'm going to rule one point of hope only. I agree that the implied intent is only one point and the quote you mentioned was what I remembered but couldnt find. this is a character story not anaction story, so Rorin's being frozen by the watchers may have unintnended consequnces in this or future stories. I am not in the habbit of allowing the story or plot to hinge on capricious dice rolls so no one should feel iced out. All in due time.

Doug, Matt is probably tied up, do you want to roll for Grimbeorn if he dooesnt post tomorrow so we can finish up?

 :ooc:  Sure can...

Fear test
TN 16 valour♦♦♦

Orophin held onto his memories of home as he walked towards the dark fortress. He looked at the ancient architecture, some of which had been built by his kin long ago. Dol Guldur was once the home of Oropher, King of the Silvan Elves, but he had retreated from the naked hill and led his people north.

Orophin steeled his heart and broke past the Watcher's and entered the castle. He was a merry Elf, normally full of song and laughter, but this journey had left a shadow on his soul that would take many days to fade away.

A gruff voice broke the silence, "I cannot enter this place."

The Company turned to see Grimbeorn standing there, shamed and afraid. "I have come all this way only to find that I cannot go any further. The terror this place exudes quails me and I dare not go forward."

"There is no shame, Grimbeorn," replied Radagast. "Strength is measured in many ways. Stay here and guard our rear - we shall be as quick as we can, and then we all must away. To stay longer will cause us to descend into a despair from which we will not escape. So use your keen eyes and ears and make sure our path out of Dol Guldur will not be impeded."

The wizard's words calmed the tall Beorning and took away any self-doubt that he may have felt, restoring his strength and commitment.

"Come," said the wizard to those that could.

During the approach to Dol Gulder, Rorin marched mechanically and silently. His mind was full of dark thoughts and he could not get over the feeling of humiliation from his stumble the day before. During rare moments of clarity he knew that the Shadow was entering his heart and that he was needlessly fixating on a small thing, but invariably his mind would turn back to resent towards those who laughed. When finally the company reached the High Keep, Rorin felt fear the likes of which he had never imagined. One by one he saw his companions master the fear and push forward past the terror that held them back, and yet, his feet would not move.

He said to himself, "I am Rorin, son of Barin! My beard is long and my hammer is dented, I have felled scores of my enemies and have never run from a fight! I will not let some cheap sorcerer's trick undo me now!" And he stepped forward.

Just as Rorin began to walk, he heard Grimbeorn behind him, "I cannot enter this place." Rorin could feel the fear take hold of him again, and as the wizard was speaking to the Beorning, he heard himself saying, "Fear not Grimbeorn! Who knows what creatures saw us approach this place, even now a host of orcs could be following in our footsteps. I will stay and guard the rear with you." And he was ashamed, for he knew that he had been bested by fear and that he had attempted to hide that fact from his friends with false bravado.

The Silvan Elf nodded at the decision, "There is wisdom in this. We would not want to come out of the keep only to find all of our efforts for naught, due to a large host before us. We will make our stay inside only as long as needs be. Hold the door, my friends! We shall be back."

Orophin then waited for the wizard to take up the lead, for only he knew what they sought. "What are we looking for, Radagast?" inquired the Elf.

---

:ooc: that opens the possibility for Tom to throw more at the Company - both in and out!   (-D   >:D

Bandy's heart quailed when the two stoutest members of the fellowship could go no further. For a moment he was angry. How could they survive the Keep without Grimbeorn's Bear Claw sything through enemy ranks and Rorin's hammer smashing goblin helmets? He envisioned his own death. The pained looks on his companions' faces reminded Bandy that had Arbogast not broken teh watcher's gaze, he might find himself in their position. He felt pity for them both, but dared not show it. "Thank you Grimbeorn and Rorin," was all he could thin to say. "Thank you for protecting us against the orcs and other fell beasts that may come from this direction."

Let us press on.

 :ooc: esgalwen, Arbogast, Orophin, and Bandy will be headed into the High Keep. bandy will not be able to spend Hope points while they are in there.

The High Keep
The exploration of the High Keep will be treated like an extended contest roll, with the following changes. Each die roll the players make will be treated as a function of time spent in the high keep exploring using the Search skill. Each character has a number of free rolls equal to their Valour score. Any rolls for any other reasons in excess of their valour while in Dol Guldur will result in a shadow point. The number of successful search rolls the group makes will determine the information that the party collectively finds and will determine the narrative. For planning purposes consider a complete success at 5 Search rolls TN14, the PCs may stop at any time with a lesser number revealing less information. Also, some of the clues found may require other skill rolls to successfully exploit the full information available, so factor that into the groups skill roll management. Good luck.

Figure out how you guys want to do this, make your rolls and I'll supply the narrative result.

 :ooc: I'd suggest Bandy make 1 search roll, and Esgalwen and Orophin each attempt 2. If we fail one, Esgalwen can attempt another. If we fail more than that and need to start eating shadow points, I'd suggest Bandy easts it only because his search skill is awesome. If the test is for something other than search, than I'd re-examine... if possible, Esgalwen as she has so few temp shadow points at the moment.

Your guys thoughts?

Quote from: Telcontar on Oct 09, 2015, 06:03 PM:ooc: Bandy will not be able to spend Hope points while they are in there.

:ooc: Neither can Orophin - in fact he rolled an Eye on that second Fear roll, Tom. Not sure if there is anything you wanted to do with that.

Quote from: Posterboy on Oct 09, 2015, 09:03 PM:ooc: I'd suggest Bandy make 1 search roll, and Esgalwen and Orophin each attempt 2. If we fail one, Esgalwen can attempt another. If we fail more than that and need to start eating shadow points, I'd suggest Bandy easts it only because his search skill is awesome. If the test is for something other than search, than I'd re-examine... if possible, Esgalwen as she has so few temp shadow points at the moment.

Your guys thoughts?

As I have backed out of this part of story-telling and have become Orophin's proxy player, I agree with your thoughts. Don't forget Arbogast in your equation, though. I have not read the section on inside Dol Guldur, so I will not be able to cheat.

The Elf has a Valour of 2 and currently has a Shadow of 4 against a Hope of 8...so, we can definitely count on him for his two skill rolls and a few more at need, but we can't push him too far. If we do, I see him becoming lost in his mind and memories...maybe end up staying in Dol Guldur, haunting it and wishing for better days.  >:D

Anyway, Orophin is only 1 rank in Search and Explore...so, this might be some serious tests to achieve since he can't spend Hope.

Here goes my two attempts:

TN 14 search ♦○○○○○

:ooc: A freaking :~~: !!  :'(

Can this get any worse for this guy? The other test, of course, failed too!

 :ooc: Are we only allowed Search rolls, or can we use Explore to make the tests?

 :ooc: I'm going to roll the Search tests. I read over the two skills, Search does seem more appropriate for the task. I'm going to attempt 3 of them... my max for valour.

Test #1 (TN = 14)



Test #2 (TN = 14)



Test #3 (TN = 14)

 :ooc: Oops... I rolled d6s for my feat dice... I'll reroll those three:

 :ooc: I'll spend 2 hope points to make 2 of them successful.


 :csu: I've updated Esgalwen's sheet to reflect the use f 2 Hope points and her AP gain in Perception group

:ooc: Arbogast has no Search skill worth mentioning, but he is cunning, and I haven't used that trait before.  Can we say he gets a flash of inspiration about where treacherous orc-types would have hidden something valuable? 

I'll keep another roll in reserve for now, in case we need to do some interpreting. 

 :ooc: arbogast; I'll keep cunning in mind if some of the other rolls come up, but not for searching.
Orophin, the first Eye was outside the keep, I think we can resolve that with a corruption roll. The secondd Eye Inside the Keep I will work into the upcoming narrative.

The current count is 2/5. Would anyone like to push their luck or use any more consquence free rolls.

 

 :ooc: doug, have Orophin make a Fear TN16 test for the second  :~~:  roll.

:ooc: Here are the Corruption and Fear rolls:

TN 14 wisdom ♦♦


TN 16 valour ♦♦

 >:D

 :ooc: Orophin staved off that point of Shadow, but he is going to have some ill-effects from the fear roll inside the keep.

If he is able to function afterwards, Orophin will try another two Search rolls to attempt to close the gap on the scene requirements.

Quote from: Telcontar on Oct 10, 2015, 12:50 PM:ooc: arbogast; I'll keep cunning in mind if some of the other rolls come up, but not for searching.

How about 'patient' then?  Can that be used for a methodical search?

:ooc: I like patient, myself.  $OO

As a victim of Doug'd die roller myself I am inclined to throw you guys a bone. I'll allow a bonus roll for Patient that doesnt count against the Valour Roll total.

:ooc: I was more hoping for a standard auto-success.   Pretty please?

Since skill rolls and searching are a function of time in the High Keep, being too patient isnt probably the wisest decision. One free roll at TN14, final offer.

 :ooc: Between the okay Search skills and high Hope it makes sense that Bandy take more chances. Here goes the one free Search roll.

 :ooc: Oh crap. I fell short by one point..

 :ooc: hey guys I'm back  ;D  I think I'm caught up, but can you reiterate the tests needed right now, wanted to make sure I made the right ones.

 :ooc: Alright, so a couple more tests are needed, yes? We have 2 successes so far yes?

I'd suggest that Bandy and Esgalwen try to make the remaining three.

I'll attempt two more:

Test #1 - Search (TN=14)
(http://rpg.avioc.org/boards/Themes/default/images/dice_warn.gif) This dice roll has been tampered with!
feat die: 1d12 : 4, total 4
(http://rpg.avioc.org/boards/Themes/default/images/dice_warn.gif) This dice roll has been tampered with!
skill die: 1d6 : 2, total 2

Test #2 - Search (TN=14)
(http://rpg.avioc.org/boards/Themes/default/images/dice_warn.gif) This dice roll has been tampered with!
feat die: 1d12 : 10, total 10
(http://rpg.avioc.org/boards/Themes/default/images/dice_warn.gif) This dice roll has been tampered with!
skill die: 1d6 : 4, total 4

 :ooc: Apparently, my session timed-out while I was typing. Anyway, I succeed at one more. Spending hope won't save the last one. So, I won't bother.

 :csu: Updating Esgalwen's sheet to reflect the additional 2 shadow points gained

If Bandy is unwilling to try additional checks, Esgalwen will try again. Finding out as much info is important to her.

Quote from: Telcontar on Oct 11, 2015, 04:21 AMSince skill rolls and searching are a function of time in the High Keep, being too patient isnt probably the wisest decision. One free roll at TN14, final offer.

:ooc: Well, can't blame a guy for trying.  I'll try to roll high and see if a Hope point will help.  Quel marth! 

:ooc: Bleah.

 :ooc: Bandy tries again

 :ooc: f@$#!*g Dol Guldur
One more time

 :ooc: One succes which brings us to four, right?
Marked the Shadow Point :csu:
Will try one more search

 :ooc: Bandy is still in better shape in terms of Hope:Shadow, so I'll try again.
Another Shadow point marked :csu:
Search

 :ooc: That should be five. What do we win Monty?
I marked another Shadow  :csu: 

:ooc: Nice rolling, you two. 

Part 1

The companions parted in the macabre garden, some going further into the keep, while others remained on guard to prevent the Wizard from being blocked in the High Keep.

Grimbeorn and Rorin stood back to back scanning the garden. The eyes of the watchers still bored into them and the two felt uncomfortable and anxious standing in the open. At first the two watched as their companions entered into the maw of the high keep. When they had vanished the two unwillingly cast their eyes onto the stairs of woe that climbed higher into the hall of the necromancer. Both were glad that their errand did not force them in that direction, but the sooner their task was done the better it would be. As the wizard left their sight and company they felt as if Dol Guldur pressed even greater upon their bodies and hearts.

Radagast in the company of the other companions soon left the garden behind. Their footsteps echoed as they proceeded down the walkway of the high keep. As they entered the High Keep for a moment the companions were confused by what they saw. Instead of the dark horrors they expected instead they walked into a palace. While it was dirty, vacant, and abandoned the walls and niches were decorated by the pillaged treasures of lost kingdoms. The ranger of the south was not certain, but due to similarities in architecture and style she thought they belonged to the lost kingdom of Arnor.   Even the hobbit recognized some of the styles from the relics and mathoms that had come down to the shire from the north.

The Brown Wizard whispered, "this was the hall of our foes most trusted servants and spies, as well as the administrative center of his dark workings across the land. The Council of the wise searched this place quickly, most of the documents were already removed when we arrived. I'm afraid our assault was already known to the enemy when it came. Let us take a closer look and see what it is that we may find for ourselves."

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52987685/inside_DolGuldur.jpg)

As the companions spread out into the hall and noted the passages and side rooms the place the feeling of the place began to change. The initial feeling of being in a strange museum shifted, the companions now felt a malignant will set against them. Searching the High Keep became an exercise of supreme will. Stray thoughts began to interrupt the thought  process, dark thoughts or random ones that made concentration difficult.

Esgalwen was the first to call out to the companions and motioned them to come to her. As they arrived they saw slumped in the corner the dead remains of an orc. The marks on the floor showed that he had crawled from somewhere within the keep to die here in the hall. A blade protruded from the ribs of the brute, the flowing silver lines of its grip showed clearly that it was an elven blade of some kind. Orophin cried out when he spotted it and drew it from the beast examining the blade.

"This was made in my homeland to the north, they are sometimes traded or given as gifts to the men of Dale and Longlake."

Arbogast took a more patient approach to the examination of the dead orc. He prodded the beast and examined him, "this foul creature was not dead very long. Despite the proximity of the swamp he has not begun to corrupt. My guess is that he has only been dead a day or so, this fight occurred recently."

The ranger of the south quickly sought to trace where the creature had crawled from, but the trail went cold fairly quickly. The creature walked from somewhere and only began to leave a trail as it's life started to expire.

Again the companions fanned out through the hall. The elf Orophin, blade still clutched in his hand, wandered from the dead orc and began to examine the carving work of the pillars and the arches of the hall. As the group moved deeper into the keep Bandy noted the lagging elf and shepherded him further into the keep as they went deeper and away from the hall.

Esgalwen now stalked the halls of the keep. The blade of her friend gripped firmly in her hand as she plunged deeper into the depths of the keep. As the halls and stairs went deeper she peered into any adjoining rooms and marked the passages incase flight was necessary to the outside.

In time she came before an iron bound door that stood out from the others that she had passed and checked. This door had a large gouge in the iron plates as if a giant axe had been repeatedly smashed into it. The patient woodman was quickly be her side. "Bring the wizard, this door was not smashed open. Someone has picked the lock here, and recently." The woodman gripped his axe at the open door and waited for his comrades.

Orophin knew he was being overwhelmed by the miasma of the fortress and he worried he might become a liability to his companions. The Hobbit had had to bring him back to the present - to where they were. What was happening to him?

The Elf tightened his grip on the ornate knife in his hand. He studied the architecture that had been wrought by skilled hands long ago. This was no work of the Shadow - no work done by orcs, crude and without beauty. No, this was a work done by the Elves of old...his folk.

Arbogast's cried words brought him back again to their current place. Orophin moved with the wizard to where the door stood closed and draped in sorcery. He slid the Elven knife into his belt and then drew his Mirkwood Bow. He quickly pulled an arrow and nocked it to string and drew back to his cheek. He waited as the door was opened, ready to fire if any threat revealed itself.

---

:ooc: Tom, I am still waiting to know what the last :~~: I rolled for Orophin has caused, just so you know. He failed his Fear test TN 16 that you had requested, and I don't want to do something out of step if he is unable to.

I havent forgotten. I have been stuck down at Fort Bliss since last week so havent been able to type much, but the Eye result will come out in the next section. I havent forgotten.

:ooc: Yeesh, even I've heard of Fort Bliss.  My condolences, mate. 

Part Dos

The companions gathered in front of the iron banded door. Each of them had their own dark thoughts, hopes, and fears of what they would find behind it. The woodman, Arbogast, had heard nothing from the other side while he waited for his companions to assemble. Now that they were here he tightened his grip and nodded to the Halfling to throw open the door. Bandy nodded in return and stepped up to the great door, placed both hands upon its edge. The end of which was smooth and cold having stood closed and untouched by the elements until recently. The hobbit took a deep breath, looked at all of his companions again and gave a giant heave on the door.

Surprisingly the door swung open quickly and quietly and the Hobbit arced back against the wall with a thud. Beyond was only a corridor, lined with shelves and small chambers. Each one of the party members let out a breath that they didn't know they were holding until that moment.

"We have found the library," were the quiet words of Radagast breaking the silence.

It was apparent to the companions that the halls and rooms once contained a great many books and scrolls. From the state of things currently it looked as if someone had cleared out most of the items in a hurry. The discarded scraps and items that littered the corners and the lone pages that could been seen on the shelf were not left or discarded on purposes, but purely scattered about or lost due to haste.

"Come friends," said the wizard, "let us see what may learn here."

The companions spread out and began to explore the rooms and passages and gather up what they thought might be important for Radagast to assess. And so they proceeded, room to room, gathering up scraps of paper to bring to the wizard. He sat by the door, like a crane building a nest while the paper and detritus of the library collected and gathered around him. As the companions gathered up the documents they noted that they were in many and diverse languages, some wholly unknown to the adventurers. With each one Radagast would scan it quickly, make some comment and either toss it on the floor or occasionally fold it up. His comments were sparse and almost absent minded, 'this is elvish', 'ah Haradrim odd', 'blech black speech DO not read that aloud here'. Each document they brought no matter how strange the wizard seemed able to read and grasp in an instant.

From the documents that the companions scanned they quickly gleaned that the library contained the messages or reports of the spies that the Necromancer. Most alarming of all was both the depth of detail and the range in which his spies seemed to collect knowledge. Reports of missions into the Anduin Vales, scouts exploring and reporting on the conditions of roads, crop yields among the woodmen with some going back many years, names and places of people who no longer lived, and finally a report that outlined the military forces of Lake-town that may have been current as recently as last year.

A cry from Bandy broke the search of the others, peering into a room the hobbit spied a man. He was quick to nock an arrow, but soon realized that the man was unmoving and slain. Here in a corner room of the library lay a man from Lake-town. His clothes were well worn, and his cloak was covered in mud, muck, and blood. His staring eyes looked to the ceiling while his hand clasped a jagged wound in his gut, the ribbon of his entrails just beginning to protrude between his fingers.

The companions quickly gathered in the room and the shuffling sound of Radagast was heard as he made his way down the hall. Esgalwen spied the orc blade at his side, the instrument clearly had condemned the man to death. Arbogast looked at the man and the area around his feet.

"He was surprised and attacked from behind. There his empty shealth, it must be the mate to the blade you carry Orophin."

The man carried no gear and as the woodman examined the corpse he found also a pouch of silver lozenge shaped pennies. Spilling some of the sixty coins into his hand he examined them.

"Those are pennies from Thranduil's Hall," said Orophin. "We use them when trading with outsiders."

While the large folk examined the body of the man the hobbit continued to explore the room. He noticed that the man had crawled or stumbled to the position he was now in. Looking closely Bandy noticed a grate in the floor. Inching closer he spied a handful of papers jammed into the opening, some stained in blood.

His small hand reached easily into the grating and extracted the papers. He quickly unfolded them and smoothed them out from habit. The hobbit ordered them into uniform orientation and unfolded as if they were forgotten letters on his desk at home. While the others examined the body he quickly scanned the pages, noting that they were in the common speech and of a script that Bandy could read.

"Hi, this looks important," said the hobbit.

Bandy scanned quickly, "Orophin, this says the elves keep a watch of three companies upon some path, and deployed around a glade of some sort near..."

"IEEEE!" Came the high call from the elf as he snatched the papers from the Hobbit's hand. "Cease your tongue!"

Trembling the elf read the pages in his hand. The news struck the elf like a physical blow as his eyes rapidly scanned the pages. The elf moaned, tears sprung and fell from his eyes as if he had walked an hour in the rain. His lips quivered and his skin grey almost translucent pale.

The elf poured over the report on the defenses of his own home to the north. Each detail assaulted him like a knife wound. Each description a blade twist in his stomach. As he read his mind's eye conjured up a vision of the place as he had seen it last, but that image was then overrun by shadow and death as each one of his friends he knew there were cut down by shadow, fire, and blades. His mind and heart were assaulted by the knowledge that the enemy had such perfect knowledge of things even the Elf King considered secret. In a moment Orophin despaired, like the Noldo Kingdoms of old Beleriand his home would be raped and despoiled. Dropping the pages he ran screaming from the hall, the elf was undone. 

The companions watched, none had, nor would possibly ever, see the like of which again.

Radagast grabbed the papers and scanned quickly, "COME, there is nothing more to learn here that is more troubling than this." The wizard stood back from the door and ushered the others out. "Quickly, follow him. I know not what he might do."

Quickly the companions, with the wizard in the trail, fled the halls of the Necromancer.

Arbogast moves as quickly as he can, trying to keep Orophin within earshot.  The possibility that his friend may be lost to despair in these halls forever - or until the forces of the Shadow return to reclaim it - drives him on, though the elf's feet be fleet and his passage quiet. 


:ooc: I suspect that this is once again the end of a scene, but I'll make an Athletics roll to catch up to Orophin in case you need it.

 :00:

Grimbeorn grimaced as he reviewed what was gleaned about his people.  Most of it came from those that traveled through the land but plenty was gathered from the Misty Mountains to the west, Gundabad to the north, and even from Mirkwood.  "Even the spiders of the realm bow to his will," he thought.  His irritation with the rest of the group grows as they can't seem to keep themselves quiet as this was no place to be squeaking or squealing, so he continues his death grip on his cherished family heirloom.

Orophin ran into the gloom outside the keep. His foot falls, light across the ground, did not sink into the deep morass. A rage was on him and he strove to regain his wits.

There is a spy in my home, he thought to himself. His mind raced through ideas as to what he should do. The Elf wanted to continue running - all the way to the Hall of his king to report this treachery. But he could not abandon his friends, could he? These people were now more than just acquaintances, more than people he had met at a gathering, they had shared bread together. They had bled together.

Grimbeorn grumbled at his passing and Orophin turned a wicked eye on the man. How dare he! It was not the house of Grimbeorn that was being betrayed, evidenced by the parchments found within this foul place!

Arbogast found Orophin panting and pulling at his hair. So far! He was so far away from his home. Even now the treachery could be poisoning his folk and the realm could be afire. The woodman spoke calmly and reassuringly to the Elf and Orophin allowed the words to ease his mind. These were friends and allies - and as he would do all that he could to not see their house burn, so he knew that they would, too.

It was as if an oppressive will suddenly released him and the Silvan Elf righted himself. He turned to Arbogast and gave a wan smile, "We must away from here lest this place takes us all." The woodman nodded his agreement and they turned back to see the others approaching.

Radagast led the way, his stride long and urgent. "We head home via the quickest route. Pull tight your belts and muster your strength - there will be no warm beds nor food until we reach Rhosgobel. Let us hope that nothing bars our way!"

The Company stepped up their pace to that of the Brown wizard's. They pushed through the inner gatehouse, to the large outer yard beyond leaving behind the Watchers and the dead Mallorns. They trodded the path as it weaved and wound through the orc warrens and terrible holes of the expansive yard. What this place had once been - a garden and arbor full of grapes and fruits - and what it was now began to once more erode the Elf's will. The party heard faint, far off cries, sad and forlorn. Maybe it was the land, or maybe there were still individuals trapped in the Necromancer's dungeons within the warrens crying out for a freedom that would never be theirs.

Still, as hoped by the wizard, nothing barred their way.

The outer gatehouse was before them and after would be the bridge over the moat, the moathouse, and then the Fenbridge. It seemed a daunting and unending path of danger and weariness, but Radagast did not break stride and his encouraged pace bolstered the Company. Their boots echoed through the hollow of the gatehouse and then the moat loomed, barring their way save for the thin span across it.

Eerie mists that glowed with unnatural light was animated above the water and along the bridge. When they had entered, the moat had been covered with the gruesome fog, but it had not grasped at the bridge as it did now. A low, fearful moan filled the air and panic welled within each of the companions -even the wizard took pause.

It seemed Radagast's hopes of a clear path were for naught.

---

:ooc: I need ALL PC's to roll a Valour test TN 16. Any PC impeded by Fear within the fortress, and thus unable to use Hope, is freed from this grip.

:ooc: Here goes nothing -

:ooc: Orophin

TN 16 Valour ♦♦

:ooc: LOL! This damned Elf is doomed! A freaking :~~: !!

  :ooc: :00:

 :ooc: TN16 Valour

 :ooc: For crying out loud

 :ooc: That's a lot of  :~~: s. Here's hoping to avoid that fate.

:ooc: Going to make the roll for Esgalwen so we can move the scene forward.

TN 16 valour ♦♦♦

:ooc: Funny - it was the three Men-folk that overcame the calling...

---

Bandy heard a song start to swell from within the moaning mists. It was distant and beautiful and he found himself enchanted. The voices called to him and told him of rest and peace and to be forever alive. All he had to do was join them...go to them. The Hobbit moved out of the ring of his friends and started to walk towards the mists that grasped the edges of the bridge. Finger-like tendrils reached above the span and out towards the small fellow. The young Bracegirdle found he could do naught to resist, even if he had wanted too.

Unknown to Bandy, two of his other companions had heard the cry and were also entranced. Orophin and Rorin both were called and they greatly desired to enter the mist, to go to those that beckoned. Even as Grimbeorn reached out to grab the Dwarf, Rorin shoved off the large man's hands and strode quickly to the bridge's side.

Below, the quagmire that was the Dol Guldur moat lay fetid and thick. The candles of the dead shone brightly and the fog became more luminous.

---

:ooc: Three PC's are entranced, four are not. If you want to try and stop them from stepping off the bridge into the moat, I need an opposed Athletics test. Orophin and Rorin must add their favoured Body attribute, as they are overwhelmed by the call of the dead - due to their :~~: results.

Each unaffected PC must state which character they are going to try and stop.

DON"T DO ANYTHING YET WITH ROLLS UNTIL I POST AGAIN - I WANT TO SEE IF THERE IS SOME BETTER OPPOSED TEST OPTION.

 :SS  Grimbeorn's attempt to restrain his companion was unsuccessful and so he's unsure as what yo do next.  "Radagast, what draws them so can we knock sense into them?"  He looks about erratically, hoping for some inspiration.

 :ooc: what about some rousing speech?  Something to get their attention?  Whack 'em on the head?

Exhausted as he is, Arbogast misses Bandy until he has strayed nearly to the water's edge.  There is no time for words, so he makes a panicked grab for the hobbit's hood...



:ooc: This seems to call or for the brawling/wrestling use of the Dagger skill.  Song might also be thematically appropriate.

Quote from: Eclecticon on Oct 18, 2015, 05:59 PM:ooc: This seems to call or for the brawling/wrestling use of the Dagger skill.  Song might also be thematically appropriate.

:ooc: Yea, Paul - I read that in the core book last night and I have to be honest, it seems like the authors of this mechanic gave that to us as an afterthought. Hence the little sidebar box. I don't think tests of will, or bearing, or strength were well thought out in TOR.

Even the valour test I requested to resist the evil will of the dead spirits' calling was something I had to come up with on the fly, as I couldn't find any appropriate ruling or power. But since valour fights fear, I thought it a good choice.

Tolkien's entire works are about willpower and testing one's endurance. I am not sure why the creators of this game left that idea out of the mechanics.

Anyway, I am bouncing the question off of the TOR Google+ site and will see what makes sense. Give me some time to figure out how I want to test you all.

I am thinking an Inspire Roll TN10 modified by the targets corruption/shadow points.

 :ooc: Okay, I have figured out how I want to run this. The PC who is attempting to stop one of their fellows who is entranced may do 1 of 2 things:

1) Grapple them and hold them from the side of the bridge and then usher them across
2) try to Inspire, or Song, them and break the enchantment

The base target number will be TN 10 plus the enchanted PC's governing attribute for the skill type used; Rorin and Orophin will use their favoured attribute as they are really trying to join the calling voices.

So, to wrestle Bandy to the ground would be an Athletics TN 12, but for Rorin it would be a TN 18, and Orophin a TN 17

To try and break the hold on the PC would be: Bandy (Song TN 12, or Inspire TN 16); Rorin (Song TN 18, Inspire TN 17); and Orophin (Song TN 17, Inspire TN 13)

So, post which person you are going to try and stop and then roll whichever type test you want to make. You get 1 shot per PC before they go over the edge. You may spend Hope to assist your roll.

 :ooc: Rorin is screwed lol

This is going to be epic.

Seeing no response from the Wizard ("Sometimes they are more trouble than their worth," thinks Grimbeorn), the Beorning heir tries one more time to grab his dwarven friend.

 :ooc:
 :00:

 :ooc: Athletics is a Favored Skill for Beorn, so he uses 1 Hope to add 9 to his result for a total of 20.

:ooc: Hey Matt and Paul - did you guys post something above that did not show up in the thread? I see you guys have comments above about trying to stop your companions, but failing. Then Matt wrote the Wizard did not respond.

Are there posts not showing up? Let me know so I can ascertain my boards are recording your posts when you make them.

And yes, Matt, Rorin is pulled from the edge. Great roll!

 :ooc: I had a post #78 that came right after your last story post.

:ooc: Ok - so you are not seeing anything missing, correct?

 :ooc: I'm pretty sure I've got everything.  I stuck a post up to 'claim' Bandy, but didn't post any rolls as you were still working out the mechanics of it.  I'll get something up today. 

Esgalwen saw Orophin, lost in grief, teetering towards the foul swamp. Her mind raced for a way to reach her friend, to call him back from Death's grip. The words of a song of old came to her, words she heard once before, sung by the elf himself. She prayed her voice would not fail her now.

 :ooc: I'm going to try a Song test to help Orophin

Song Test (TN=17)

 :ooc: Sorry, Orophin  :'(  :tdown:

Arbogast takes handfuls of Bandy's cloak and hood, trying to pull him back as if pulling on a rope.  The wool of the cloak has suffered from the mist and mire, though, and begins to give way around the fastening pin.  Hearing the sound of tearing, Arbogast makes a lunge for his hand. 


:ooc: Rolling Athletics...

 :00:

Both Man's hand and Hobbit's are slippery with sweat and grime, and Bandy slips easily through Arbogast's grasp and goes half-staggering half-sliding down the bank.  Without thinking, the Woodman launches himself full-length after him, coming to rest in the sloping muck with one hand awkwardly pinning the Hobbit's arm and another firmly gripping a handful of hair.  He suppresses a shudder at the look of baleful entrancement on his friend's face as he tries to slowly pull him up to safety. 


:ooc: I'll spend a point of Hope to bump that total up to 13.  Per p 134, I get it straight back. 

Orophin pushed passed Esgalwen, her hands slipping from their grasp and her eyes bewildered. The Elf did not seem to hear her words. He walked towards the edge of the bridge, even as Grimbeorn wrestled Rorin to the far end, and Arbogast the young Hobbit.

The Silvan Elf did not jump, he fell forward - his face and chest smacking into the stagnant water below. The motion of his body caused the mists to billow out, but then the tendrils closed back over where he fell like a terrible hand. Esgalwen only saw the morass, green and fetid, before Orophin disappeared within. But before the mists enclosed his fall, she saw grizzly, undead faces looking up from below the water - their mouths' flesh drawn back in horrid dead grins, and each seemed to glow with an eerie white light.

Corpse Candles, she thought, her mind racing back to the tales of the Dead Marshes and the Will'O Wisps that were said to haunt the region.

With the mists covering where he had disappeared, the Dúnadan saw only two choices - jump in after him in hopes to save Orophin...or leave him behind. All of her other friends were safely across, only Radagast looked on in shock.


(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52987685/deadmarshes.jpg)

---

:ooc: Tom, I leave Radagast for you to play. Ayrn...have fun.  ;)

 :ooc: Son of a...

Even as the words of the song fumbled out of the fair ranger's mouth, Esgalwen's heart knew they were of no use in breaking the enchantment on her elven companion. She watched with horror as the faces of the dead rose up in the foul waters to meet the falling Orophin.

"You shall not have him!" she cried out to the swamp. Dropping her pack, Esgalwen unsheathed the blade at her side and dived in after her companion.

 :ooc: Last ditch effort! [<

:ooc: I'm guessing that neither Grimbeorn not Arbogast can leave their charges to help, or they'll just their themselves in as well?

"Esgalwen, no!", cried Radagast as the Ranger dove.

And then she was gone.

Now on the far side of the bridge, Arbogast and Grimbeorn could feel their charges returning to themselves, shoving against their grip and asking what and why.

The wizard stood alone on the span, looking over the edge into the swirling mists. Save for the initial splash, and a following swish of water, no other sound was now heard.

---

:ooc: holy crap! Wasn't sure if she'd go. Give me some time to figure these tests out.  (-D

"Rorin, someone, rope!" cried Grimbeorn as he rushed over to where the companions had fallen into the fell waters.

 :ooc: Yes, please! HELP!!  :'(

Truthfully, I can't imagine Esgalwen doing any different. But, should they perish, while I will be sad to lose the ranger, I do have a Laketown Minstrel character in mind that I'd love to try out too. So, don't feel like you have to pull punches or fudge rolls to save the girl.  ;)

Arbogast spares a glance at Rorin and Bandobras, but both are still listless after their own violation by the spirits of the marsh.  The dwarf is carrying what little rope the fellowship brought with them - they came to sneak into a fortress, not climb a mountain - but there is no time to shake him into alertness.  Instead, Arbogast draws his dagger and slices through the bottom of his pack, letting the contents spill out.  Mercifully, the coil of rope is there. 

He hands one end to Grimbeorn, letting the larger man brace himself and prepare to pull, then stands as close to the edge as he dares, trying to empty his mind and listen, over the sound of his own heavy breathing, for the slightest sound of motion in the mist. 

Surely, he thinks, surely they will stir the muck.  Surely I will hear...


:ooc: Alertness roll - Ave Maria, mater de Deus...

:00: 

:ooc: You're kidding me, right?

Bandy stares blurry-eyed and disoriented into the distance as if he had awakened rudely from a comfortable dream to find himself in a fog and did not know where he was. Slowly turning his head this way and that, he sees Rorin standing nearby as if in daze. Where are the others. A sudden fear grips him. "Arbogast! Esgalwen!" Turning he sees Arbogast and Grimbeorn on the bridge working frantically with the rope. Grabbing the dwarf hard with both hands and shakes him as hard as he can. "Something is wrong Rorin! We must help!"

"What are you doing? Tie it on your waist and get in there!" Said Grimbeorn.  "Two tugs and I'll pull you out!"

The first look Arbogast sends Grimbeorn's way says "you wade into the haunted swamp if you seek a restless death so keenly" more eloquently than mere words could.  Yet the son of Beorn is right - alone of all the fellowship still retaining their senses, he is mighty enough to pull more than one clear of the mire. 

Arbogast nods and descends the slope, axe drawn and rope about his waist.  His bellow of "ESGALWEN!  OROPHIN!  ANSWER IF YOU HEAR ME!" is like a battle cry, focusing his courage and setting his trepidation aflight. 

Ooc. Wow. Let me get a post up for our brown friend.

Rorin awoke to his hobbit friend shaking him by the shoulders and yelling frantically. He felt as though he had slumbered for a week and he had no recollection of where he was, or why. As his will slowly became his own again he began to unravel the frantic scene before him; The hobbit was pointing at Grimbeorn at the edge of the bridge, and Grimbeorn was barking orders and bracing himself while holding a rope, and somewhere....below? Rorin heard what must be Arbogast yelling to the ranger and the elf.

"Bandy! Help the wizard with whatever he should need! I must lend my hand to Grimbeorn."

With that he charged to where the commotion was happening, stood behind Grimbeorn, and took up the slack rope that lay behind him. When Rorin glanced over the edge he saw the faces in the water, and for a moment they looked enticing, like old friends waiting to welcome him home. But he shook his head and saw them for the horrific evil that they were, Rorin braced his feet and tightened his grip on the rope and his determination was redoubled.

"I know not the plan friend, but say pull and that is what I will do." Rorin grunted to Grimbeorn.

The compulsion to do something, anything, sends Bandy scurring to the Wizard's side. But what is he supposed to do? Too small to help Grimbeorn and Rorin, he feels helpless and useless. He draws his sword not knowing what else to do. "Radagast!" he yells at the wizard who stands an arm's length away. "Do something! You are the only one who can save them from this sorcery!"

Bandy moves as close to the edge as he dare and brandishes the sword at the hideous, twisted face below. Words tumble out of his mouth that he little understands, although he has a faint memory of hearing them from Orophin. "In the name of Elbereth release my companions!" he commands.

 :ooc: A shot in the dark, but I'll roll Song to try and break the grip on our companions. Can it be buttressed with my Rhymes fo Lore in any way?

Grimbeorn looked at the brown wizard and dismissed him as unhelpful and providing no assistance. The wizard however had not been idle. While he stood upon the causeway he murmured low unintelligible words. His staff was held above his head lengthwise towards the foggy sky above. While he murmured song birds began to land upon the staff and as each one landed the song of the birds grew louder. No one had seen any of these birds on the travels in the swamp and how far or from where they had come from no one knew. The song of the birds had the subtle effect of filtering out and decreasing the call of the creatures in the water. Unfortunately it had not provided a strong enough aid to all the members of the party.

Things then transpired rapidly. The wizard called to Esgalwen scattering the birds and then watched in horror as Arbogast prepared to jump into the water and the words of the hobbit assaulted him.

Recovered from the shock Radagast rushed forward in a speed that bellied his apparent age and knocked the woodman to the ground. "DO NOT TOUCH THE WATER!"

The wizard stepped off of the causeway and struck the water with his staff.  Instantaneously a blinding flash, magnified by the fog, caused all the members of the party to cringe at the intensity of its light. The fog, like a solid object was cast away from the wizard and he stood in a ball of clean air. The marsh water where his staff had struck had turned to icy glass. The wizard stood seemingly on a thin layer of ice that should not have supported his weight.

Then his other hand smashed into the ice sending shards of ice and dark water into the air like a geyser. The silence was broken by a mournful howl as soon as his hand made contact. Reaching in the wizard grabbed the Dunedan women and pulled her from somewhere in the water. The party could see incorporeal hands and arms attached to her body, choking her throat, with nails digging into the veins and joints of her limbs. Her skin and appearance resembled grapes that had been left too long on the vine. The juices and life dried out creating a shriveled and drained appearance.

In two long strides the wizard had her in his arm and was back on the causeway.  Where the two then crumpled to the ground.

For a moment stunned silence ruled the causeway and the dark twilight of the swamp returned. Then, a ripple emanating from the tower of Dol Guldur rolled through the fog. The greenish light returned and began to intensify. From behind them they heard a single bell toll somewhere from the High Keep and the howl and screech of unknown creatures.

The little candles that had previously seemed to hover over the water moved. In a fluid motion they rose out of the water revealing long slender arms. In a moment the wraith like bodies of creatures seemed to rise from the waters. Some dressed in flowing robes of silk, others geared as if for war, in ancient and forgotten styles and appearances. Each of the figures turned to stare at the companions on the causeway. The fog showed only the phantoms closest to the companions, but more lights could be seen around them hidden in the fog.

Reverently, Arbogast lifts Radaghast from where he has fallen.  The Brown Wizard is ancient beyond the reckoning of the Woodmen, and his body is like a bird's: bony and deceptively light beneath his voluminous robes.  As gently as he can, he hands him to Grimbeorn.  "Bear him well," he says. 

After pausing for a moment to cut himself free of the rope, he turns to Esgalwen.  His heart lurches as he beholds what the malign spirits of the swamp have wrought on the Ranger's body, and he doubts that much can be done for her before they have fled the swamp, but he must try.  "Bandy," he calls, "have you a little wine to bring strength back to her limbs?" 

Without waiting for a reply, he crushes some strong-smelling herbs between his palms and rubs the resulting paste under her nose and inside her cheeks.  Then he sets himself to trying to rub some warmth back into her skin.  He looks up after a few breaths, hoping to see some trace of Orophin emerging from the fog.  Instead, he sees the spirits and ghost-lights beginning to emerge from the mire.  "By the light of the Lamp, you shall not have her!" 



:ooc: Let's try my luck at Healing.  I have no idea what the TN is likely to be for first aid against ghostly-sucked-life-force, but it's worth a try. 

:00: 

:ooc: Hmm, uninspiring.  I'll spend a point of Hope (for a final total of 18) if that will make it a success. 

The companions felt the sudden weight of the marshes upon them. In all their travels to date they had known the land to be oppressive and dismal. In the wake of the wizards actions they now knew they had felt only a fraction of that malice and hate. While the wizard was distracted the full weight of the land settled upon each of their shoulders, but the land alone was no longer the only thing against them.

A dark presence was aware of them. Each companion in his own mind felt as though they stood naked and alone upon the causeway. The dark petty thoughts they felt earlier were nothing compared to the despair in their souls they felt now.

"He knows..." The words escaped from the wizards lips and his eyes fluttered open.
The wizard sprang to his feet.

" I have revealed myself and He knows that I am here. Come, we must redefine the meaning of haste or be caught here in his realm and destroyed. I pray I have not doomed Greenwood to the shadow in my rashness. Through the outer gate quickly, lest we be overpowered in the swamp. Or we find the Fenbridge held against us." We the wizard active and alert again the weight of the land seemed to lessen upon the companions, but the new feeling of nakedness only continued to intensify.

The woodman looked at the woman, to his eyes she appeared neither living nor dead.

"Rorin," he cries, "help me carry her!  Bandy, Grimbeorn, run!  Run!  Alas for Orophin, but we must flee or perish!" 

"Move!  I will follow behind!" says Grimbeorn.  He quickly gathered up himself, hefted his axe, and set off trailing the group, giving a silent missive to his lost friend.

:ooc: Goheno nin, Orophin.  Posto vae. 

 :ooc: great posts, guys! That was really fun to read.

 :ooc: I take it Esgalwen is out for the moment?

In her mind, the nightmare continued.

She was underwater and there were things around her. No - not things, people. The maligned spirits of folk that had once lived and died here, or were forsaken in this place. They floated around her, clawing and gnashing with teeth that were bared of any flesh. The hungry eyes desiring her life energy, even as they stole that of Orophin. The Elf! The thought of her Silvan friend came once more to her mind and she saw him - he was laying on the bottom of the moat, the weeds and water plants wrapped around his arms and legs, like hands clutching his body to the ground. He was drowning...or maybe he had drowned, for he did not struggle. The lights of the undead surrounded Orophin, making him glow softly, even as they drew from him every ounce of his life energy, consuming it for themselves.

Esgalwen wanted to scream. What had she thought she could do? Why had she jumped? Her feet were snagged of a sudden by the vine-like plants of the moat and she was being dragged down. The Dúnadan woman screamed then. Her mouth filled with the putrid waters and she wanted to wretch, but her body could not. It heaved on its own, trying to breath as her lungs filled with water. She knew she was dying. The lights were now all about her, and in them were faces of the damned. They closed in and began to consume her.

Of a sudden, a sweet taste entered her mouth and she gave out a croaking breath, and then a terrible cough. The ghosts faded and the friendly, concerned faces of Arbogast and Bandy took their places. The Woodman was horrified at her appearance - drawn and aged, as if he held a woman of seventy-plus years. With her breath, and then the fluttering open of her eyes, Arbogast called for Rorin to aid him in carrying her. The tortured look within her face made the Woodman pause, fearing that she might be lost after all. But then she began to breath more normally and her body began to slowly transform back, as if the stolen life force was returning.

Scooping her up, he and Rorin ran with Bandy and Grimbeorn close behind - the wizard leading the way.

Esgalwen looked back over the shoulders of the two friends who carried her, at the horrible bridge. The vision that she saw caused her to once more give a scream, which caused the hair on Bandy's neck to stand up. "NO! BY THE VALA, NO! HE WAS NOT YOURS!" she cried to nothing there, but in her mind he stood on the bridge. A sentinel now to this place, to watch for, and draw in victims of his own. He wore the armor of his kin of old, but Esgalwen knew him and he would haunt her for the rest of her days.

(https://rpg.avioc.org/webimages/lotr/tor/deadmarshes-elf.jpg)

---

:ooc: Ayrn - I know you mentioned something about a new PC - is that your wish? Are you not enjoying Esgalwen? No matter what, unless slain, she will stay in our story, but if you want to try a different character type, Tom and I are cool with that. If you decide to do something new, I will take Esgalwen as an NPC. The story is invested in her back story, so she will continue on.

She is not out completely, but rather horrified, for the moment.

Esgalwen may remove all temporary Shadow and replace it for 1 permanent Shadow point, for her experience. :csu:

:ooc: Sweeeeeeet.  That was worth waiting for!

 :ooc: Two things with regards to Esgalwen:

1) I'm sorry if I gave the impression that I didn't like Esgalwen and wanted to trade her in. That was not what I was trying to say at all. I was trying to say, Esgalwen jumped in after Orophin knowing full well it might be the end of her (but believed trying to save her friend was worth more than her life). And I, as the player, also knew this might end really badly for Esgalwen. I was trying to assure you that I am okay with in character death's, especially if they come with a good and/or heroic story... and that, even if Esgalwen were to die, I would still be interested in playing and I have another character in the wings ready to go.

Please hear me: I'm super glad that you encouraged and pushed me to keep going with Esgalwen after the first chapter! (Thanks for that!) And I've enjoyed this chapter very much, especially having her story-line more deeply established. Thanks for the ways you weaved in me hopes and dreams and last fellowship phase into this chapter.

2) While I love playing Esgalwen, I can totally understand if you would also like to take her over as an NPC if her storyline is becoming one of the major plot lines of our campaign. As a DM, it might be nice to have some (more) control over her destiny (so she doesn't go jumping off of bridges and killing herself!) If you think this would be best for the collective story-telling, awesome! I'm totally for it. (And, like I said, I have a Laketown Minstrel nearly ready to go... originally, I had in mind that he would be a close friend of Orophin. I might be interesting to think through how Orophin's death drives him to join the companions?)

Otherwise, I really like Esgalwen, and would love to keep playing her.  I'm excited to see how she develops in this story... from her life in Tyrant's Hill, to returning her lost kinsman's sword to his family, to finding the last remaining companion, to working towards an alliance between Tyrant's Hill and Gondor, to maybe figuring out how to bring hope and healing to the Necromancer's Tower (or, at least, release for Orophin's spirit)... all sorts of places to go and see!

So, with regards to Esgalwen, do whatever you think is best for you as DMs and our collective story here. I'm good with either.  :tup: 



Also, Esgalwen will take the permanent shadow point.  :'(

 :ooc: I think Doug was saying that she will be part of the story and the NPC idea was to say that if you are tired of the character she will continue to be part of the story. You should be the one playing her though so I'm glad you like her, she's your character. Now go and do PC stuff so we can try and kill her.

Who do these PCs think they are..... :]